How to pronounce capacity
Say it like kuh-PAS-uh-tee. Capacity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce capacity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- PAS
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Capacity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PASSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of capacity
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: kuh-PAS-ih-tee.
What does capacity mean?
- capability to perform or produce“among his gifts is his capacity for true altruism”“limited runway capacity”
- the susceptibility of something to a particular treatment“the capability of a metal to be fused”
- the amount that can be contained“the gas tank has a capacity of 12 gallons”
Where does capacity come from?
From Middle English capacite, from Old French capacite, from Latin capācitās (whence -acity), from capāx (“able to hold much”), from capiō (“to hold, to contain, to take, to understand”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with capacity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of capacity.
Questions about saying capacity
How do you pronounce capacity?
Say kuh-PAS-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /kəˈpæsəti/. In British English it is /kəˈpæsɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in capacity?
Capacity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAS). Broken into parts: kuh · PAS · uh · tee.
Is capacity pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /kəˈpæsɪti/ (kuh-PAS-ih-tee).